IQC 2

ISDH

Nabiki drew herself up. "Prepare, for the cold is upon yee. the Ice Queen Cometh!!"

and the screen winked out.

Ranko blinked. "That's new."

M. Butterfly exchanged glances with Tiger-Lotus. "Okay boys. Search every where. we are going to find this Wild horse guy and kill him. Extra bonus if you bring him to me alive so I can wring information out of him." all but five of the goons swarmed out, searching the air-ship for the Boss-Ladies' target. "Now it just a matter of time, and he will be ours." As she laughed in a high pitched manner that was not as freaky as Kadatchi's, her silken cloak/robe snapped up into a set of black butterfly wings with silver trim and a silver skull in each panel.

"Yes Sister, it is only a Matter of Time." Tiger-Lotus purred.

"You, and your boys, will never find him. Not until he wants you to find him. Then it is only because Nabiki has called him and ordered him to bring you down," Ranko was looking out the forward window of the air-ship. "Where are we going anyhow?" she turned to look at the Ladies.

"What gives you the Impression that he will slip past our men?" T.L, growled. "We have the best sensor equipment you can buy or steal. There is no where on this ship he can hide."

"He is not a stow-away. He is crew." Ranko turned back to the window, anything not to look at Lotus. "Besides, you are safe, for now. Nabiki is quick to anger, quicker to act, but rarely quick to strike. She likes to wait; to inform her targets that they have angered her, and to watch while they run about, looking for an escape route or some loophole. Mostly they end up inflicting three to ten times the harm on them selves, and when the dust settles, she moves in with slow and chilling grace, to collect what is owed her, from all parties."

"How do you know so much about the inner workings of the Nemira Wrecking Crew?" T.L. asked, "how do you know so much about the inner court of the Ice Queen?"

"Did you even read the data on my personal files? She referred to me as a handmaiden of hers. I spent the last two years learning from her directly." Ranko turned to M Butterfly, "I presume that you at least read my history these last two years?"

M. Butterfly nodded, "I read a few things, like you are not just a hand-maid to the Ice Queen, are you? then there is the fact the 'Wild Horse' is listed as your instructor in the combative arts, you are the cousin of the Ice Queen, but the only Tendo excluded from the Bride wars. Including the fact that you are not just missing out, but that you are conspired against, overlooked, and set aside time and again. I will relent that I looked only at the issues I needed to fill out a basic request form, thinking that you would welcome the chance to rewrite so much of the chaff that is your life."

Ranko nodded, "You got the basics. Be thankful that it is Ranma after me, not the Others."

"Others?" Tiger-Lotus snorted. "What threat would some 'wanna-be's be to the likes of us?"

Ranko turned to glare at her. "I do not know, lets try who is listed under the Reign of the Ice Queen." a wave of her hand at the now sprawling Mistress Butterfly.

M. Butterfly peered at the screen at her side. "Blue Thunder."

"Kuno." Ranko snorted in an unlady-like fashion. "Primary function; Bankroll. but he is strong in the forms of Kendo. Very strong. he can cut steel and stone at thirty paces with a swipe of his Bokken."

"Lost Pig."

"What? She knows?' Ranko asked turning to look at M. Butterfly. at her nod, she turned back to posing cat-bitch. "Habiki Ryoga. The only guy to match Ranma in growth of the Art. His primary skills turn cloth in razor sharp projectiles, turn walls into rubble, and can beat you to a secret hidden base only you know about, but never once use the front door."

"How can he beat me to my secret base?"

"He has bloodline curse that knocks out his ability to walk a straight line, but allows him to walk around the world."

"You are making that up." Tiger-Lotus spat.

"Where the hell am I?" a male voice was heard from outside the hatch, but by the time a henchman was able to look out the door, the Lost boy was gone.

"I wish." Ranko snorted. "He can track Ki signatures, and was looking for me or Ranma, and just missed us. he also never misses a cue. Do I need to go on?"

Looking at the Hatch, Tiger-Lotus shook her head. "No, I think I am good." looking at Ranko, "Just how good are you?"

"I can hold my own against all but Ranma, and Akane. The few times I have faced him, I fell hard. Akane is the only one to repeatedly smash both me and Ranma with an ambush attack." She cocked her head to the side, "Why do you ask?"

M. Butterfly stood, "Follow me."

Ranko trailed along in her wake, her eyes roving over the design and build of the ship. the Head of the tri-ad lead the way to the armory. Inside, were rows of black and chrome dart rifles, bandoleers of tiger striped shurikens, swords, knives, and a selection of ninja type gear that would have caused Konatsu to faint.

M. Butterfly picked up a dark green metal item on a long silver chain. "This was fashioned for you, when you were selected as our third." she handed the item to Ranko

looking it over, Ranko noticed it was a steel fan with twenty feet of chain ending in a dragon's claw, that closed to a fist or opened to rake or grasp.

Moving off to where there was room to stretch out, Ranko put the new weapon through its paces. the fan flickered from a 2 inch wide club into a three feet half moon blade of jaded steel, while the chain twirled as a shield, then struck like viper, the claw opening and closing as the wielder danced. Further inspection noticed that the edges of the fan were razor sharp.

Snapping the fan closed and wrapping the chain about her from on shoulder to opposing hip, allowing the claw to grip the fan, Ranko looked at the two ladies. "So, who do I got to gut like a common panda to get something to eat?"

Frowning at the girl's choice of phrasing, the Ladies lead the way to the Galley.


"Do ya think he got the message?" a cross of a Texan drawl applied to Japanese laid across the silence following Nabiki's Video Conference.

"She." Nabiki slumped in the folding chair. "We need to recognize Ranko as the person in play right now. Ranma is out of contact until this business with the Guild is cleared up." Nabiki rubbed her eyes. "I can not believe I am going to do this. Ok, people. I need a list of those who are going with me. I also need to talk to Kuno. Shampoo, are you with me? You will need to tell the Elder. Bring the duck."

Taking the offered phone from her 'minion', "Hey Ninja-Kun, need to speak to the Master. Tell him it involves his redheaded goddess." She sighed, "So sorry Ranma." She looked up to see that Shampoo was gone. "Ah Kuno-Baby, I bring good news, bad news; I have been working with Ranma, to unbind that silly curse that ties him to that redheaded beauty that you croon over." she pinched the bridge of her nose. "Kuno, I keep telling you that he is just as much a victim as she is. Any ways, we were at a breaking point, when she was kidnapped. I have their heading, but need a ride. I could let you take us to the foul lair of those who seek to bind her to them. Offer stands at 150,000 yen to escort us, with an additional 250,000 yen if you want to try your hand in the actual combat. Have the jet ready, and a check in hand at the airport in 30 minutes." she hung up.

"Point 4 million yen, just to take you and company to fight these Tri-ad?" asked the newest member of Nabiki's inner court. "Is it really that easy to squeeze money out of Him?"

"Yeah, that is the easy part." Nabiki levered herself to her feet. "The hard part is getting him to keep his hands and sword away from Ranma or Ranko when this is over."

Twenty minutes later, Nabiki and Ukyo were waiting in the first class lounge at Tokyo International Airport. Konatsu had ducked out two minutes ago to 'pack' all steel items on board the plane, so nothing had to be 'claimed or declared' at customs.

Kuno had yet to show, but had called ahead to tell the flunkies to ready the jet, and that Nabiki was expected. Shampoo and Moose were in route, while the elder was doing inventory.

Nabiki was sipping iced tea while she lounged on the leather couch, when her cell phone rang. "Nabiki here."

"Hey 'Biki-chan." Ranko's chirpy voice greeted her ear.

"Ah, Ranko. By guild law, you are not allowed to be calling me."

"Just calling my legal adviser, before taking on the duties of the Jaded Dragon. I got this cool outfit, a new weapon, and I think they are planning on me having a group of minions. Before I take full possession of the Role of the Jaded Dragon, I needed to know what my duties to the group are. And what Ranma's duties to you are. Besides, if we are called on this, it could be passed off as Ranma checking in."

"Okay, Had they taken anybody else, I would have sent Ranma in, with his team to disable the defenses, render the minions unable to cause harm, and reclaim what was taken. Officially Ranma is watching, waiting for my order. You are to do what you can to assist Mistress Butterfly. Her mission statement is a bit basic, but she is trying for global power rather then world domination. You are to her, what Ranma is to me and my sisters. got that?"

"Okay. Two more things. One, how is Mother handling this?"

Nabiki's eyes bulged. "I forgot to tell her. I will handle it when we are finished here."

"Okay. Tell her when I return, in either form, we will begin sword training. And our Last item. P-chan, you are to tell Akane the truth. He has my oath of silence, but that you know..." her rubbing her face could be heard. "Its bad enough the Baka patrol knows about him. Tell mother that I love her, and I am coming home, to her." She hung up.

Nabiki just looked at the phone in her hand. "Today is not a good day."

"What did Ranma-chan have to say" Ukyo drawled.

Nabiki glared at the Cook. "Ranma? Why would Ranma be calling me?"

"Okay, Ranko then."

"She needed to clear up a few things, legally. I am also to tell her Mother that she is okay and will be coming home to her. I was also informed that father and uncle knew about pig-boy and did not tell Akane."

One of the girls that were there to take Kuno's check stepped forward. "Hey Boss, do you mind if I could be the one to deliver the news to Ranma's mother? I have been informed of her skill with the blade, and am seeking instruction in a good school, but most wont teach a girl. As your messenger, I could at least speak to her."

"Okay, also inform her that P-chan is a cursed human and that fathers know the truth of this. Inform her that I am asking that you be taken on as a student, and a link to the chaos that threatens to enfold her son."

just as Kuno showed up, handing the check to Nabiki. "Let's go, my fiery beauty awaits!"